Disclaimer: I don't own anything Star Trek it is all property of Gene Roddenberry, J.J. Abrams, Paramount, and whoever else owns rights to the franchise. I am not making any profits off of this so please don't sue me.
.
Chapter 10: Of Misty-Eyed Family Members and an Exasperated All-Powerful Being
.
" So Cap'n, can we get the story o' jus' how you and Commander Spock here ended up in holy matrimony?" Asked Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery Scott.
Jim watched as the faces of Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu all took on similar expressions of curiosity now that they had all significantly calmed down from the initial shock of finding out about the true nature of Jim and Spock's relationship. Jim switched his gaze from the expectant faces of his command crew, to the ever calm and collected face of his husband. The mental bond that linked their minds hummed softly as Jim and Spock shared a quick mental conversation with each other.
" Well, it looks like it's time to tell the full tale Spock" Said Jim through the link.
" Indeed it is. However T'hy'la, let us explain how we came to be united without going into any explicit detail." Replied Spock.
" So I can't tell them how utterly fantastic and almost God-like your stamina and prowess in bed is? C'mon Spock, you'd become legendary." Said Jim.
From the way the bond seemed to almost radiate a pleasant warmth through Spock's mind, the Vulcan knew that his bond mate was merely teasing him, and the rest assured, what was private between them would stay just that. Private. Not wanting to keep the crew waiting any longer, Jim and Spock both turned to face Uhura, Scotty, Chekov, and Sulu. Taking reassurance from their shared bond, the couple began to tell these four trusted individuals just how the both of them ended up married. Since he already knew the story himself, Bones simply sat back and waited to see how his fellow crew members would react once the tale was finished.
Approximate thirty minutes later...
The conference room was virtually silent save for the low hum of the Enterprise as she cruised along through space. Jim resisted the urge to squirm a little as Uhura, Scotty, Sulu, and Chekov all gawked at him like he had sprouted a second head and a prehensile tail. Bones simply sat back and smirked a little at the sheer awkwardness of the situation his best friend found himself in. Spock was as stoic and blank faced as ever. He hadn't once lost control throughout the tale of how his marriage to his Captain came to be.
When the silence continued for several moments longer, Jim finally had enough.
" Guys, snap out of it." He ordered lightly.
This seemed to jolt everyone out of their collective stupor. It was Bones who spoke first.
" Let this be a lesson to the rest of you the next time any of you beam down to an unexplored planet." He said, sending the crew a look that told them he was being absolutely serious about the warning he had just uttered.
Jim allowed himself a soft chuckle because Bones sounded, for all intents and purposes, like a father sternly lecturing his unruly children. Bones instantly rounded on Jim and leveled a withering glare at the young Captain as he spoke.
" You, James T. Kirk, better be countin' your blessings. That freaky red plant pollen nearly killed ya. Your husband here nearly killed ya while under that red pollen's influence. That simple plant dust could have killed ya both, and then where would this ship be without a captain and and a first officer?" Growled Bones.
Jim sent his best friend a sad smile. He saw past the anger and knew that learning just how close he and Spock had come to death had terrified the good doctor. Jim reached out and firmly gripped Bones by the shoulder, giving it a firm, almost painful squeeze before he spoke.
" Bones, Spock and I know full well how close a call it was." Said Jim softly, his eyes momentarily going to Spock before he looked around the conference table and continued.
" Besides, I am truly counting my bonding to Spock as a blessing. If I hadn't been tied to Spock, I probably wouldn't have made it through what happened two weeks ago." Said Jim.
" What do you mean Captain?" Asked Uhura, instantly curious as to what role the marriage bond between Jim and Spock played in Jim's survival after he had been viciously mauled by that alien beast.
Jim smiled at his Communications officer and answered her inquiry.
" You all know that I was pretty messed up after that away mission two weeks ago." Began Jim, pausing as memories of terror and agony flashed through his mind. Jim quickly battled away the nightmarish images of the beast that had nearly ended his life. He felt a low hum in the back of his mind and felt warmed by the ever present bond he shared with Spock. Jim took a deep breath and continued his explanation.
" After we had all been beamed back onto the Enterprise, I felt like I was slowly being dragged away from everything, into darkness. I really was moments away from checking out." Said Jim softly, glancing at the haunted looks that filled the faces of his crew before he continued.
" I was fading fast, then out of nowhere the feeling of being pulled away just stopped. I felt this strange warmth surround. It just felt so familiar and safe. It gave be the strength to open my eyes for a few moments and come back to consciousness. First thing I saw was Spock standing over me while Bones was getting ready to operate on me. It was then that I realized, even with all the blood-loss, that it was the bond that kept me from slipping away. Through the bond our mind shares, my husband kept me tethered to life itself." Said Jim softly as he gazed at his bond-mate.
Spock met Jim's gaze with unwavering focus. In that one look they shared, Jim and Spock spoke volumes of something that didn't need any words to be said.
Jim and Spock finally broke their mutual gaze when they noticed how silent the room had become. When they both looked around the conference table, the couple saw just how powerful and deeply moving Jim's quiet words had been to the crew. Uhura was smiling brightly, even though her eyes were welled with tears. Chekov looked just about ready to burst into tears himself. Sulu, though not on the verge of tear swallowed thickly and gazed at Jim and Spock with a look of admiration. Scotty looked like he was fighting back laughter while his eyes were a little over-bright. And finally, not even Bones had been immune, as there was a a genuinely happy little smile graving his face while he blinked a little more than was normal. The silence continued for a few beats longer before Bones huffed softly and rolled his eyes as he spoke.
" Oh God, you've been turned into a complete and utter sap Jim." He said gruffly. This immediately caused chuckles all around , except from Spock, who simply quirked one of his slanted eyebrows.
" Well Cap'n, it looks like we'll all hafta ge' you an' Mr. Spock some long overdue weddin' gifts." Grinned Scotty.
" Mr. Scott, you are speaking of the Terran custom of giving gifts to a newly married couple, correct?"Inquired Spock.
" Yes sir, thas exactly it." Nodded Scotty. Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu all nodded as well while Bones grimaced a little because he had no clue what to get the happy couple.
" Guys, you don't have to go out of your way or anything." Said Jim, his eyes flushing the barest pink for a split second.
" Nonsense Cap'n, it's not everyday ya find out your Cap'n's married, to his First Officer no less. Presents are definitely en order." Smiled Scotty.
" It vould be no trouble at all Keptin." Said Chekov with a shy smile.
" We aren't going out of our way sir, this is your marriage we're taking about. It's a big deal." Added Sulu.
" It'll give us a chance to make up for not being there for the actual event." Said Uhura with a hint of disappointment crossing her lovely features.
Jim immediately felt a wave of guilt wash over him at Uhura's words.
" Again, I am so sorry we didn't tell you guys sooner. It all just happened so fast. And the circumstances were a little bit embarrassing." Said Jim with a small chuckle.
At this, Bones snorted a little and spoke.
" Well that's a first, Jim Kirk actually embarrassed about something." He ribbed in good nature.
Jim rolled his eyes and then smiled brightly at Spock. Spock's dark eyes softened at his bond-mate for a few precious moments before they became stoic once more. Realizing that this meeting needed to be wrapped up, Jim turned his attention back to his command crew and spoke.
" Okay gentlemen and one lovely lady, we can discuss this interesting turn of events at a later time, but right now we've got a ship to run, so let's get back to work." Said Jim as he rose from his seat at the head of the table. Everyone else followed in his wake. As he rose to his feet, Spock spoke.
" Please be advised that the five of you have been told this very personal information with the expectation that you will all keep it to yourselves. No one else on the Enterprise is aware of the true nature of the relationship between the Captain and myself. Please endeavor to maintain the trust that Captain Kirk and I have both placed on all of you." Said Spock solemnly.
" Of course Commander. We won't tell another soul about this." Said Sulu.
" Vee vill not ewen discuss zis with each other unless it iz een absolute priwate sir." Vowed Chekov.
" And, we will all be discreet about our gifts. Isn't that right everyone?" Asked Uhura as she sent Bones, Chekov, Sulu, and Scotty this one meaningful look. Scotty's cheeks flushed slightly, but he nodded vigorously in agreement. Chekov and Sulu both smiled while Bones grumbled something unintelligible and nodded.
Jim felt a deep warmth surge through him, and knew that Spock felt it too through their bond. Jim grinned widely as he spoke.
" That's really good to know. Now, lets all go back to our jobs and pretend that I didn't just drop a huge bomb on all of you." Said Jim as he stepped away from the conference table and headed for the side door that led to the main bridge. The others all watched as Spock opened his mouth to say something when Jim smoothly cut him off as he pause halfway to the door.
" I was being figurative Spock, I'm not actually carrying any kind of explosive device on me, now come on." Said Jim over his shoulder with a smile at his husband before he disappeared through the door to the main bridge.
Spock stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His dark eyes lingered on the doorway his bond-mate had just walked though.
" A most illogical being, my T'hy'la." Thought Spock to himself.
When the Vulcan turned his gaze away from the door, he found five sets of eyes staring at him. Uhura, Scotty, Chekov, and Sulu were all smiling at him while Bones had what looked like a good-natured smirk gracing his lips. Spock met the warm gazes of his fellow crew members and quirked one of slanted eyebrows as he spoke.
" We have all heard the Captain, let up return to our duties." Said Spock before he gracefully turned on his heels and strode off towards the main bridge like his husband had done before him.
" I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think those two were made for each other." Said Uhura as she watched Spock leave.
" I'm just surprised the God-damned apocalypse didn't start when those two said 'I do'." Grumbled Bones.
This caused the others to laugh out-loud because of just how accurate Bones's statement was.
It had seemed so far-fetched for Jim and Spock to even remotely become friends because of their rocky history with one another before the Narada incident. Now here they were, having somehow managed to be married nearly half a year without anyone else knowing. It really was perplexing.
However, the time for further analysis of this once unheard of situation would have to wait. Saying their farewells, Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov all made their way to the main bridge to resume there duties. Scotty headed off back down to engineering, and Bones was off to Sickbay.
They were all of them, still in utter shock about what had transpired this morning, and they were also contemplating just what kind of wedding presents they woudl give to Jim and Spock.
Meanwhile, thousands of light years away...
A low hum escaped the massive being made of swirling red energy as it glided through space. The low hum was the sound of quiet exasperation. Unbeknownst to the personnel of the Enterprise, the red being was keeping tabs on the Federation's flag ship. From a distance, the being had sensed the distress of Jim's latest brush with death, and the relief of his subsequent survival and recover. As it floated through space, so very far behind the star ship, the being thought to itself about the mortal man who was the very reason why it was distantly following the Enterprise.
" You had better be more careful from now on mortal man, otherwise you'll be dead before we even get to meet. Then how am I going to give to the gift you wished for?" Thought the being as it continued traveling patiently through space.
The time for this being's special meeting with the mortal known as James T. Kirk would arrive soon, very soon.